Chapter 2
All About the GED® Test
This chapter summarizes the structure, scoring, and look and feel of the GED® test, and provides important information about other available resources.
WHAT IS THE GED® TEST?
G-E-D Spells Success!
GED graduates report high job satisfaction with employment they obtain after earning their GED. On average, they earn $200 more per week than non-high school grads.
The GED® test is actually four tests that you can take in one day or over a series of days. Many people refer to it as a high school equivalency test because when you pass the test, you earn a credential that most colleges and employers recognize as the equivalent of a high school diploma.
The questions on the test come in several formats, which we'll describe in Chapter 3. The questions are supposed to measure your knowledge of some of the subjects taught in high school. However, GED® test writers don't expect you to remember specific details. For example, you will not be asked what year Columbus first arrived in the Americas or which planet is farthest away from the sun. If the test writers want to ask about Columbus, they will first provide you with a short reading passage about him, and then they will ask questions based on that passage. If the test writers want to ask about the planets, they will first give you a diagram of the solar system and then ask you questions based on that diagram.